Die assembly



Sept. 3, 1968 Mn- ET AL 3,399,558

DIE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. no A. DEAN SMITH BY OORNELIS LA NGEW/S ATTORNEY Sept. 3, 1968 D, $M|TH ET AL 7 3,399,558

DIE ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2. 1966- E W RU 0M6 T N v m E N N Amw R EL 0 DE T T A0 A C Sept. 3, 1968 SIM|TH ET AL DIE ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1966 INVENTOR. A. DEAN SMITH BYCORNELIS LANGEWIS ATTORXIE;%6LJ

Sept. 3, 1968 SMn-H ET AL 3,399,558

DIE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 2. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- A. DEA N SMITH BY CORNELIS LANGEWIS nited State atent Patented Sept. 3, 1968 3,399,558 DIE ASSEMBLY Arthur Dean Smith, San Lorenzo, and Cornelis Langewis,

Walnut Creek, Calif., assignors to Kaiser Aluminum &

Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1966, Ser. No. 524,637 Claims. (Cl. 72-282) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a die tool pack assembly wherein improved and conveniently arranged means are provided for adjustably locking and aligning a die element in the assembly with other elements of the assembly.

This invention relates to a die tool pack assembly which can be used in the manufacture of hollow cup-shaped articles, such as cup-shaped containers. More particularly, it is concerned with providing an improved die tool pack assembly wherein the various die elements are at least partially open to visual inspection, are readily accessible for servicing and lubrication and wherein improved means are provided for aligning and holding individual die elements of the assembly in alignment with each other and with a cooperating forming ram during use of the assembly.

Accordingly, it is a primary purpose of the instant invention to provide an improved die tool pack assembly wherein the indivdual die elements are so arranged in the tool pack assembly that they are at least partially open to visual inspection, are readily accessible for servicing and lubrication and wherein improved means are employed for aligning and holding the various die elements of the assembly in alignment with each other as well as with a cooperating forming ram during use of the assembly.

This and other purposes and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical housing for a forming ram with which the die tool pack assembly of the instant invention can be used and wherein the housing is provided with appropriate means for affixing the tool pack assembly to the housing, the ram being shown in dotted lines and with the die tool pack assembly removed;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the end portion of the housing with the die tool pack assembly of the instant invention mounted therein when viewed generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a view generally taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 with the tool pack assembly of FIG. 2 being added;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the die tool pack assembly when generally taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of and discloses a modified type of accessory shoe element that can be used with the die tool pack assembly for holding individual die elements within the tool pack assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 with parts removed and discloses a roughly C-shaped member used in holding the tool pack assembly parts together.

With further reference to the drawings and in particular FIGS. l-3, the die tool pack assembly of the instant invention is associated and usable with a suitable forming ram 12 mounted in a housing 14. The ram 12 and housing 14 as well as a workpiece or blank feeder device 16 for feeding blanks to the ram 12 and die tool pack assembly can, if desired, all be of the type shown in copending application Ser. No. 339,814 of Langewis, filed Jan. 23, 1964 now Patent No. 3,314,274 issued Apr. 18, 1967. However, since the feeder device 16' and ram 12 do not form any signficant part of the instant invention, no detailed description of the same is believed required.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the die tool pack assembly 10 can comprise a series or plurality of aligned die elements A, B and C of the type shown in the aforesaid copending application. Thus, the ram 12 can pass a cup-shaped blank first through die A where it is reversely redrawn and then through dies B and C where the walls of the blank are elongated and thinned by ironing the same. After passage through the several dies the formed container is passed through a stripping device 5, the details of which are disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 276,632 of Smith et al. filed Apr. 29, 1963 now Patent No. 3,353,394 issued Nov. 21, 1967.

In order to accommodate the die tool pack assembly 10 the forward end 15 of the housing 14 is bifurcated so as to be provided with upper and lower mounting segments or holding arms 16 and 17. The die tool pack assembly 10 is suspended between these arms in a novel fashion which will now be described.

By reference particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the fork arms 16 and 17 are cut on a bias in such a fashion that they provide a slot 18 which advantageously projects at an inclined angle with respect both to a vertical as well as a horizontal plane. The die tool pack assembly 10 is mounted within this slot 18 and is anchored therein by being afiixed to the arms 16 and 17. The die tool pack assembly 10 includes a series of die holder members 20 and 22. As indicated particularly in FIG. 2, die holder member 20 approximates a reverse-C in one planar view whereby it is provided with a central recess or open portion 21 open to the atmosphere, while in another planar view it is generally rectangular in configuration. Recess 21 in effect extends across element 20 and constitutes an elongated slot open at both ends.

The slot 21 is defined by partially flat and partially curved surface segments 21a, 21b and 21c. Lower surface segment 21b as viewed in FIG. 2 is intersected by the flat surface 23 and upper surface segment 21b is intersected by the surface 25. Surface 25 merges and intersects with the surface 27 disposed at an angle thereto While surface 23 intersects with a surface 29 also located at an angle thereto and arranged generally parallel to surface 27. Surfaces 23 and 29 in effect form a die element receiving pocket 30 at the lower part of holder 20, while surfaces 25 and 27 form a die element receiving pocket 30' at the upper part of the holder 20. The surface 21a of the recess 21 is interconnected with the other facial recess 29' of holder 20 by means of the central bore 28 which is aligned with the ram 12 and the workpiece drawing orifices of the various die elements A, B and C.

Removably and adjustably mounted in the pockets 30 and 30 is a die element C. Die element C includes a die holder ring 32 and the die ring 32', which includes die orifice 32.. Die holder ring 32 and die ring 32' are anchored in the pockets 30 and 30' which are closed off on the principal open side thereof by the bolster plate 34, a portion of which is brought into abutting engagement with the stepped outside facial surfaces 23 and 25' of holder 2.0. In effect the die element C comprised of die holder ring 32 and die ring 32' is sandwiched in between holder 20 and plate bolster 34 while at the same time being restrained against lateral movement in the pockets and 30 of holder 20 by means of adjustable shoe elements and a locking arm now to be described.

In this connection inasmuch as the locking shoes or stop elements employed for anchoring each of the die members A, B and C in the tool pack assembly are all of substantially the same design, a description of one will suffice for all. The adjustable stop elements and locking arm means are so arranged as to provide for a triangular locking of a given die member within its associated holder 20 or 22 as the case may be. One such arrangement is shown in FIG. 4 in the case of Where die element B is anchored to holder 22. These adjustable stop elements include upper and lower shoe members which are slidably disposed upon the upper and lower surfaces 27 and 29 in the case of the holder 20. The shoe includes a threaded bore 36 which receives one of the threaded ends 37 of a double threaded locking bolt 38. The other threaded end 39 of the locking bolt 38 is received within a retainer plate 40 bolted directly to a die element holder such as holder 20 by means of the machine bolt 41 which is inserted with in a suitable opening 42 in a holder such as holder 20 and a counterbored opening 43 in plate 40.

With reference particularly to FIG. 4 it will be further noted that the inclined and forward end surfaces 45 of each of the shoe elements 35 are adapted to tangentially contact the die holder ring, such die holder ring 32 in the case of die C and within which the die ring 32' is frictionally fitted and die holder ring 31 in the case of die B.

The adjustable shoes 35 serve a dual function in that they first act as suitable stop elements which prevent the dies A, B and C from dropping out of the tool pack. Secondly, they provide a simple yet convenient means for controlling and centering the axes of the several dies with respect both at each other and the ram. Adjustment of the lower shoe 35 by engagement of the tool end 38' of locking bolt 38 thereof with a suitable tool and a subsequent turning of the screw adjust a given die element in one direction, while engagement of the tool end 38 of the bolt 38 for the upper shoe 35 with a suitable tool and a subsequent turning of the screw adjust a given die element in another direction. To complete the triangulated locking arrangement an arm is appropriately pivoted at the pivot point 51 to an end of a die element holder 20 or 22 as the case may be. This locking arm is provided with a shoulder 52 which is adapted to tangentially contact a die ring such as die ring 32. The arm can be held in place as indicated in FIG. 4 by means of the hand operated spring biased and locking screw mechanism 54. This assembly or mechanism includes a screw 55 insertable in a threaded opening 56 in a die element holder 20 or 22, a sleeve 54' which fits loosely about screw 55 and a locking lug 57 on sleeve 54 which is engageable with the shoulder 58 on the arm 50. It also includes a series of disc springs 53 surrounding the shank of screw 55 and bearing against finger turnable knob 55' and sleeve 54'. In general, and as noted above, the disposition and alignment of a die element, such as element C, relative to one of the axes, such as the vertical axis X, is obtained primarily by the adjustment of the lower shoe element 35 while the lateral or sideways adjustment of a die element C relative to the Y axis or the axis which is disposed normal to axis X is effected primarily by the upper shoe element 35, as indi cated in FIG. 4.

By turning knob 55' in the appropriate direction fine adjustments can be made in the holding pressure applied to a die retainer ring such as ring 32' by a locking arm 50. By virtue of the triangulated contact or locking arrangement proposed, it is possible to readily adjust the individual dies relative to one another and to the ram so as to maintain the axial alignment thereof with a minimum amount of time and effort. The preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the opposed threaded ends 37 and 39 have threads of a different pitch whereby turning of a screw 38 will enable the operator to make minute and precise adjustments in the locating of the dies A, B or C 4 t relative to the ram. The pitch differential of the threaded ends 37 and 39 is so selected whereby only a very minute and precise displacement of a shoe 35 will be effected for every full turn of a screw 38. With further reference to the drawings and in particular FIG. 2, it will be observed that die holder 22 is generally I-shaped in configuration as viewed in FIG. 2 and rectangular in configuration as viewed in FIG. 4. It includes a central body portion 60 and a pair of main facial surfaces 61 and 62. Main facial surface 62 is broken down into a series of flat surface segments 62a, 62b and 620 and curved surface segments 63a and 63b. Surfaces 62b and 620 respectively intersect the aligned surfaces 65 and 66. Surface 65 intersects planar surface 68 and surface 66 intersects surface 67. Surfaces 65 and 68 form a pocket 70' for receiving an upper shoe element 35 and surfaces 66 and 67 form a pocket 72 for receiving a lower shoe element 35. Facial surface 61 is interconnected with facial surface 62 by means of the central bore 75.

Die B, made up of die element 31 and die holder ring 31' is adapted to be inserted and locked between the upper and lower shoe element 35 mounted in pockets 70' and 72. In effect it is sandwiched between surfaces 65 and 66 on die holder element 22 and the opposing facial surface 29' on die holder element 20 and it is finally anchored in place by the locking arm 50 associated with die holder element 22 in the fashion previously described. In the case of the further die A such as a reverse redraw die of the type shown in the aforesaid Patent 3,314,274, this die A can be mounted in a ring element that is sandwiched in between the facial surface 61 of die holder 22 as well as the blank guiding element of the type generally disclosed in said Patent 3,314,274 and usable with the reverse redraw die A.

The overall tool pack comprised of leaf-like holders 20 and 22, dies A, B and C, mounting ring 80 and guide 95 are clamped together in abutting relationship between the clamping ring-like element shown in FIG. 5 and the bolster plate 34. As indicated in FIG. 5 ring-like or leaflike element 100 is generally of C-shaped configuration and it is provided with an inside track 102 for receiving the guide 95 which in turn is anchored to the mounting ring 80 by bolts 95'. Ring 100 is secured to bolster 34 by means of elongated machine bolts 104 which are inserted in aligned openings 106 in bolster 34, openings 108 in holder 20, openings 110 in holder 22 and openings 112 in ring 100. After the dies A, B and C, holders 20' and 22 and their associated elements are all locked together as a tool pack unit, the entire unit is then mounted or suspended between the fork arms 16 and 17 of housing 14 by means of machine bolts the head ends of which are disposed in the enlarged bores 121 of bolster plate 34 and the shank ends 122 of which are inserted in bores 125 in the fork arms 16 and 17 of housing 14.

By virtue of the triangulated locking arrangement proposed for the several dies an improved simplified system is available for both locking and adjusting the dies in the tool pack assembly 10 whereby they can be easily and accurately aligned with each other and the cooperating forming ram.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the instant invention and as indicated particularly in FIG. 4a, any die such as die B made up of die element 31 and die holder ring 31' can be adjusted in a die holder such as die holder 22 in a slightly different fashion from that indicated in FIG. 4. In the case of the die holder 22 shown in FIG. 4a the die holder 22 is basically the same as shown in FIG. 4 and the top and bottom shoe elements 35 are mounted thereon in the same general fashion as indicated in FIG. 4. The principal ditference between the devices of FIGS. 4 and 4a resides in the fashion in which the shoe elements are adjusted.

In lieu of using a tool engaging and 38' on a double threaded screw 38 the inner end of the screw is provided with a tool receiving socket of suitable cross-sectional configuration such as a hexagon. This socket is adapted to receive the similarly configured end of a hand wrench 132 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4:: whereby a shoe can be adjusted by turning the screw 38 after insertion of the tool 132 in the socket 130. Both the upper and lower shoes are provided with these sockets 130. At the same time the pivoted arm 140 is made of suitable spring steel for biasingly locking the die B in place and this arm is provided with suitable apertures 150 aligned with sockets 130 in the screws 38 whereby a wrench can be passed through the arm 140 and into either of the sockets 130 for the purpose of adjusting either an upper or lower shoe element 35 depending upon the alignment adjustments to be made.

Arm 140 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 161 afi'ixed to a holder such as holder 22 and arm 140 can be further provided with a locking lever 165 pivotally affixed to arm 140. Lever 165 includes a lip slidable about the stud pin 170 on the holder 22.

From the above description, it will now be obvious that the various dies A, B and C can be individually removed for purposes of inspection and/ or repair without disturbing any other die or the other parts of the die tool pack assembly. Further an adjustment of one die element can be made without disturbing the adjustment of the other die members. Due to the resilient biasing of a die element in the tool pack assembly by means of a locking arm 50 or 140 an individual die element will always be rigidly held in the desired position regardless of the minute adjustments that may be made by the a shoe elements 35 associated therewith.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention has been shown and described. It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims, wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. In a die holder device the combination of a plurality of aligned leaf-like elements provided with aligned axial openings, one of said leaf-like elements having a recess disposed in an end face thereof and arranged transversely to the axial opening thereof, a die member provided with a die orifice disposed in said recess and means for adjustably locking said die member in said recess while at the same time aligning the die orifice of the die member with the axial openings of the leaflike elements, said locking means including a plurality of adjustable stop elements arranged in the recess adjacent selected portions of the die member, means for holding said stop elements in full tangential contact with said die member at all times and a pivotally mounted locking arm arranged in opposed relationship to said adjustable stop elements and provided with shoulder means for also tangentially engaging the die member at all times, the disposition of said adjustable stop elements and the shoulder means on said arm relative to each other and the die member being such as to provide a full triangulated engagement of and locking of the die member in the die holder device.

2. In a die holder assembly, the combination of a plurality of aligned leaf-like die holders provided with aligned axial bores and recesses disposed in certain faces thereof and arranged transversely to the bores thereof, at least one die member provided with a die orifice disposed in one of said recesses and in abutting relationship with respect to a pair of adjacent die holders, means for locking said die member in said one of said recesses while at the same time aligning the die orifice of the said die member with the axial bores of all the die holders, said locking means including a pair of adjustable shoe elements sliadbly mounted in the said one of said recesses adjacent selected portions of the said die member, means for holding said shoe elements in full tangential contact with the said die member at all times and a pivotally mounted locking arm arranged in opposed relationship to said adjustable shoe elements and provided with shoulder means for also tangentially engaging said die member at all times, the disposition of said shoe elements and the shoulder means on said arm relative to each other and the die member being such as to provide a triangulated engagement of and a locking of the die member in said recessed die holder, means for moving one shoe element to adjust the die member in one direction and separate means for moving the other shoe element to adjust the die member in another direction.

3. In a die holder assembly the combination of a die holder provided with an axial bore and a recess disposed in one end face thereof and arranged transversely to the bore thereof, a die member provided with a die orifice disposed in said recess and means for adjustably locking said die member in said recess while at the same time aligning the die orifice thereof with the axial bore of said die holder, said locking means comprising adjustable shoe elements slidabiy disposed in the recess adjacent selected portions of said die member, means for holding said shoe elements at all times in tangential contact with said die member and a locking arm arranged in opposed relationship to the adjustable shoe elements and provided with a shoulder which is adapted to tangentially engage the die member at all times, said adjustable shoe elements and the shoulder on said arm being so disposed relative to each other and the die member as to provide a firm triangulated engagement of and a locking of the die member in said die holder.

4. In a die holder assembly as set forth in claim 3 including means for moving one shoe element to adjust the die member in one direction and separate means for moving the other shoe element to adjust the die member in another direction.

5. In a die holder assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the locking arm is provided with openings and the shoe elements are provided with sockets aligned with said openings in the locking arm, said openings and sockets being adapted to receive a tool used to move said shoe elements to preselested die member adjustment positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1934- Smith 72.-465 11/1950 Biginelli et al. 72336 

